Putin Says Europe's Involvement Is Essential In Ukraine Peace Talks

President Vladimir Putin stated that Europe's involvement in peace talks for Ukraine will be necessary eventually, but emphasized that Moscow first wants to rebuild trust with Washington. He also suggested that a resolution to the conflict may still be distant.

As Ukraine commemorated the third anniversary of Russia's invasion on Monday, which has resulted in thousands of civilian casualties and millions displaced, U.S. President Donald Trump proposed that the war could end within weeks, according to Reuters.

Putin told Russian state television that Trump was addressing the Russia-Ukraine conflict in a rational manner, rather than emotionally, but implied that the conflict might not be resolved as quickly as Trump hopes.

Both his telephone conversation with Trump and recent talks between the United States and Russia in Riyadh touched on the issue of resolution of the conflict in Ukraine, Putin added.

"But it was not discussed in detail," he said in an interview. "We only agreed that we would move toward this. And in this case, of course, we are not refusing the participation of European countries."

Ukraine and Kyiv's European allies both objected to not having been invited to the initial round of talks on Ukraine, held last week in Saudi Arabia by the United States and Russia.

Putin stated that Europe had no role in the talks in Riyadh, which were focused on building trust between Moscow and Washington, something he deemed essential.

"In order to resolve complex and pressing issues, such as those related to Ukraine, both Russia and the United States must take the first step," Putin explained. "What does this first step involve? It should be aimed at increasing the level of trust between the two countries."

He dismissed the idea that Trump's significant shift in U.S. policy on Ukraine — including his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and suggestions that Ukraine might not recover all lost territories — was driven by emotion. According to Putin, Trump’s actions were logical and unencumbered by the promises European leaders had made to Ukraine.

"Unlike them, the new president of the United States is not constrained by shackles that prevent progress," Putin said. "He is moving in a straightforward manner and without particular constraints. He is in a unique position: he doesn't just say what he thinks, he says what he wants. This is the privilege of the leader of one of the major powers."